YOUR VIEW IS MY LIFE: SAYS I.L. MEAD TO THE GRAPHIC (1911)

Source: Greenwich Graphic. Friday, July 21, 1911. Page 1.

Doesn’t Believe Would Be Good Plan to Crowd Children in One Building-His Ideas on the Subject

Saturday morning the telephone bell rang. “This is I.L. Mead, of Lafayette Place,” was the response to our “Hello.” 

“I want to say to you that I have just had read to me your article on the schools question, and I assure you I am fully in accord with your views. I do not believe that it is a good thing to have all the children of the borough all assembled in one building. I don’t think it would be good policy, and for more reasons than one.

“In case of disease, such as measles and others of epidemic nature, it would mean that you would have to close the entire building in case of quarantine, and then it would mean more to spread among.

“In case of fire or panic it s not a good plan to have so many children congregated. And then Havemeyer building is on a very busy street and have so many children going to and from it across the street is dangerous. 

“Your idea of having school buildings in different sections of the borough is to me the proper thing to carry out the points of which I have spoken. So far as the town being parsimonious in the matter of furnishing money for educational purposes, it isn’t so. I don't believe for a moment that there would be any hesitancy on the part of the town in providing all the money necessary to educate the children and provide proper accommodations for them. But it isn’t a matter to be rushed into, but should be gone into in a careful way and not to be decided by a few people but by the majority of the taxpayers of the town. The money will be forthcoming from the town if the people are satisfied that the conditions demand it and that the plan is a proper one.

“I was very glad that you took the stand that you have in this matter, for I think it will appeal to the public in general. Let Havemeyer building remain as it is and build other buildings elsewhere to accommodate increasing demand for larger quarters for the school children of the borough.”

No one is better acquainted with the school situation in Greenwich then I. L. Mead. He has made a study of it. He was for years a member of the board of school visitors of the town, and he spent much time in this work. He often visited every schoolhouse in the town, using his own horse and carriage for the purpose, covering many miles in the course of the year, going through the winter storms as well as the summer heat. He did it because personally he was interested in it and he liked it. He did it from a public spirit and not from any mercenary motive. He gave his services and that of his horse and carriage free. And all the time that he was a school visitor he never sent in a bill to the town for any work that he did as school visitor, and he had a right to do it, and we believe it is the only instance on record in Greenwich where a man who held public office and had a right to draw money for his services refused to do it. As we have said there is nobody in Greenwich that is more capable of passing upon the school question in the light of experience than Mr. I. L. Mead.

Isaac Lewis Mead Building, at the top of Greenwich Avenue. 

And it is for this reason what he says will have that weight which experience, public spiritedness and standing of a man of the character of Mr. Mead can give. What he says on the subject has force, character and weight with the people of Greenwich, who know him and the work that he is done for our schools.